Fall2016_highres

V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 2
THE LAW OF LIFE
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES,
VIBRANT NATIONS
pg. 18
pg. 26
More Physically
Active
BECOMING
pg. 14
I’d Rather
WEAR OUT
THAN RUST OUT
ACTIVITY:

2 | A M E R I C A N I N D I A N L I V I N G
SENIOR EDITORS
Jim Landelius
Director, Native Ministries,
Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
David DeRose, M.D.
Medical Consultant
Ed Dunn
Director, Native Ministries,
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada
Sherry Fisher, RN, BSN,
Director, Health Ministries,
CULTURAL EDITOR
Jay ganeñˀdo∙doñˀ Meacham
Oklahoma Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists
Oklahoma Native Ministries
P.O. Box 32098
Oklahoma City, OK 73123
Volume 6, Issue 2
American Indian LivingTM
, Volume 5, Issue 2
PUBLISHED SEMI-ANNUALLY BY
Oklahoma Native Ministries Department of the
P.O. Box 32098, Oklahoma City, OK 73123
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EDITOR
Caroline A. Fisher
LAYOUT / DESIGN
Julie Burks
COPY EDITOR
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Letter from the Publisher
American Indian LivingTM
magazine is a bi-annual publication whose content is designed to
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by the Native Ministries Department of the Oklanhoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in
collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians.
Copyright and trademarks for American Indian
LivingTM
magazine and radio belong to River Birch,
Inc., and may not be reprinted or used in any portion
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Robert Burnette
Onondaga
During my years, I have been blessed to go through
Walter Reed Hospital several times. To walk the
halls and visit our troops is both heartbreaking and
extremely inspiring. Men and women who have
lost limbs and received other devastating injuries
use their warrior spirit to pull up and continue their
fight for life.
Each one an incredible hero and learns that activity
is the path to recovery and provides renewal. The
attitude is boosted, the blood flushed and renewed,
there is power to rebuild muscles, and hope is
restored with each new movement, each new step and each new ability realized.
It is no different for you and I. Sitting in front of the TV, at the desk or in the
truck all day does more damage than we realize. Our blood needs movement,
our muscles need renewal, rebuilding and activity keeps our minds fresh and
our attitudes strong.
The short term impact of not being active is obesity, depression, diabetes and
injuries. The long term impact of lack of activity, new research reveals, moves
a person toward Alzheimer's disease, besides other devastating diseases.
Zig Ziglar, a well-known motivational speaker, told of his journey to lose
weight. At first he related that his weight loss plan was to fill the tub, climb in,
pull the plug and fight the current. After realizing that wouldn’t work, he began
to jog. He said he hated it until one day as he was running he felt like he was
flying, his breathing was smooth, his feet floated over the earth, the sunrise was
so beautiful, his outlook on life so great; in other words, he realized he now
enjoyed the full benefits of activity.
May this issue inspire you to learn more of the vital importance of activity and
provide you with added motivation and health so that you, too, may experience
the full enjoyment of life.
neˀ sgeñ∙noñˀ naesaihwiyosdik goñdahgwih
The Spring 2016 issue of AIL inadvertently omitted Christine Weis' name as author of "Beating the
Odds" and we regret the error.

A M E R I C A N I N D I A N L I V I N G | 3
on the cover
contentsvolume6issue2
4
10
18
4 ACTIVITY: THE LAW OF LIFE
10 ACTIVITY: GARDENING
BY DR. SHERYL GREGORY
14 BECOMING MORE PHYSICALLY
ACTIVE
18 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES,
VIBRANT NATIONS
DR. IAN RECORD AND GABRIEL PIMENTAL
24 NCAI UPCOMING EVENTS
26 I’D RATHER WEAR OUT THAN
RUST OUT
BY DR. ED DUNN

Health | Activity
ACTIVITY:
THE LAW OF LIFE
Here is a trivia question to get us
started. Do you know how many
people in the United States own a pair
of running shoes but don’t run? A
whopping 87 percent. Evidently they
know what to do but are not doing it.

Health | Activity
If you want to feel better, be more energetic, reduce your
risk of disease, and live longer, plan on developing a regular
exercise regime. The health benefits of regular exercise
and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits
of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age,
gender, or physical ability.
Here are some of the amazing
benefits of exercise.
1.Exercise helps to control
weight.
Exercise helps us prevent gaining those extra pounds. It
also helps us maintain weight loss. When we engage in
physical activity, we burn calories. The more intense the
activity, the more calories we burn. It is not necessary
to spend large chunks of time every day exercising. The
important thing is consistency. Set aside some time every
day to exercise. Thirty minutes a day, four to five times a
week, will do wonders. Remember, walking is one of the
best forms of exercise.

Health | Activity
2.Exercise helps to
prevent disease.
Activity is one of the world’s best
medicinesandbest-keptsecretsinreducing
disease. It helps prevent both heart disease
and stroke. Hoping to prevent high blood
pressure? No matter what your current
weight, being active boosts your HDL,
or “good” cholesterol, and decreases
unhealthy triglycerides. This combination
keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which
decreases your risk of cardiovascular
diseases. In fact, regular physical activity
can help you prevent or manage a wide
range of health problems.
3.Exercise helps to
reduce the detrimental
effects of stress.
If you need an emotional lift or a stress-
buster after a tense day at work, school,
or in the home, try exercising. A workout
at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can
help. Physical activity stimulates various
brain chemicals that may leave you feeling
happier and more relaxed.
Exercise reverses the detrimental effects
of stress. What’s fascinating, though,
is that exercise may actually work on a
cellular level to reverse the toll that stress
has on our aging process, according to a
study from the University of California at
San Francisco. The researchers found that
women who experienced large amounts
of stress who exercised vigorously for an
average of 45 minutes over a three-day
period had cells that showed fewer signs
of aging compared to women who were
stressed and active.
4.Exercise helps to
alleviate depression.
Research suggests that burning off
350 calories three times a week through
a sustained, sweat-inducing activity can
reduce symptoms of depression about as
effectively as antidepressants. That may
be because exercise has been found to
stimulate the growth of neurons in certain
brain regions damaged during depression.
What’s more, animal studies have found
that getting active boots the production of
brain molecules that improve connections
between nerve cells, thereby acting as a
natural antidepressant.
5.Exercise helps to
boost energy.
Do you find yourself getting tired in the
middle of the day? Do you feel that you
run out of energy regularly? Are you often
exhausted after fairly routine activity?
You can improve your energy level and
boost your endurance with exercise.
Exercise and physical activity deliver
oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and
help your cardiovascular system work
more efficiently. When your heart and
lungs work more efficiently, you have
"Physical activity stimulates various brain
chemicals that may leave you feeling happier
and more relaxed."

A M E R I C A N I N D I A N L I V I N G | 7A M E R I C A N I N D I A N L I V I N G | 7
Health | Activity

Health | Activity

Health | Activity
This article was excerpted from Keep Moving Forward, a part of the Healthy 100 Biblical Inspiration series inspired by CREATION
Health. (Orlando, FL: Florida Hospital Publishing, 2012). Used by permission.
more energy. Exercise will give you that
added zest you need. Some have called
exercise the fountain of youth.
6.Exercise helps to
promote better sleep.
Regular physical activity can help you
fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.
When our muscles are tired and our mind
relaxed from exercise, sleep comes much
easier. Many people have found that a
short walk before bedtime relaxes them
and puts them in a frame of mind to sleep.
But, be careful not to exercise too close to
bedtime, or you may be too energized to
fall asleep.
7.Exercise helps to
improve learning.
Exercise powerfully affects the mind as
well as the body. Harvard Medical School
psychiatrist John Ratey, author of the book
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of
Exercise and the Brain, believes that even
10 minutes of daily activity changes your
brain.
Dr.Rateymakesthisremarkablestatement:
“Exercise is the single best thing you can do
for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and
learning.”
Exercise increases the level of brain
chemicals called growth factors that help
make new brain cells and establish new
connections between brain cells to help us
learn.
8.Exercise helps to
build self-esteem and
improve body image.
You don’t need to radically change your
body shape to get a confidence surge from
exercise. Studies suggest that simply seeing
fitness improvements, like running a faster
mile or lifting more weight than before, can
improve your self-esteem and body image.
Exercise has enormous benefits, but of
course, before beginning any comprehensive
exercise program, consult your primary care
physician. If you are in reasonable physical
shape without any debilitating disease, why
not start a program of regularly walking for
30 minutes a day? A regular, systematic
exercise program can lengthen your life.
“Exercise is the single best thing you
can do for your brain in terms of mood,
memory, and learning.”
– Dr. Ratey

Health | Activity

Health | Activity
Physical Benefits
Tending a flower garden or growing
vegetables involves planting, watering,
weeding, trimming and more.
Combinations of various garden tasks
are used throughout the growing season.
These multiple movements require the
whole body to bend, stretch, push, and
pull. The benefit of these low-impact
activities is an increase in strength,
balance, and stamina. Hand dexterity
and visual discrimination is used even
in the simple process of weeding!
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) categorize gardening
as a moderate-intensity level exercise. It
counts toward the recommended hours of
exercise we need for our daily and weekly
requirements.
Growing a garden allows us to spend
time in a refreshingly different setting
from treadmills and indoor gyms.
Working out in the fresh air and sunshine
gives value-added benefits. Vitamin
D, a known immune helper and mood-
improver, is available free from the sun.
Besides helping to fight off colds, Vitamin
D is needed for heart and bone health.
Another benefit of natural sunlight,
especially the first thing in the morning,
is the improvement of sleep. The sunlight
enhances melatonin production which
helps regulate our sleeping patterns.
Although not yet understood, research
is pointing to the possibility that actual
physical contact with soil may be
beneficial in itself. Many microorganisms
live in the soil and help make nutrients
available to plants. One of these,
Mycobacterium vaccae, has been found
to help the immune system and alleviate
depression. Another great excuse to dig
in!
Working in the garden can contribute
to continued vigor and agility throughout
our life span. As we grow older, there
is more reason to continue gardening
activities or start a new garden project.
A study conducted in Sweden of 4,000
people over age 60 concluded that regular
gardening lowered stroke and heart attack
risk by 30%. One long-term study of
3,000 older adults showed a 36% lower
risk of dementia in those who gardened
versus those who didn’t, even when other
health factors were taken into account.
Activities like gardening incorporate
strength, endurance, problem-solving,
and sensory awareness. These benefits
translate to stronger bodies and minds.
Gardening has also been used as a
rehabilitative activity for stroke patients
who are rebuilding their strength. Thanks
to adapted tools and adjustable raised
beds, older gardeners can continue being
productive in the garden.
Activity of all types can provide health
advantages, but not all have the added
benefit of being productive. With the goal
of seeing an actual product from your
labor, this particular “exercise routine”
provides its own motivation to continue.
In fact, gardening was rated as first choice
of exercise preference in a research study
involving Navajo adults with diabetes.
Fresh vegetables for the family, a bouquet
of flowers for the home, and gifts for
others are only a few byproducts of
gardening. Lastly, the satisfaction of
eating together food that has been grown
in our own gardens is something we can
experience even during the winter season.
Mental Benefits
Researchers have designed studies to
measure the stress-reducing properties
that are inherent in gardening activities.
DR. SHERYL GREGORY
ACTIVITY:
Gardening
Our people have a long history of growing food to sustain our families
throughout the year. Many of us have listened as our elders recalled how
hard they worked, years ago, growing food. Gardening was an essential and
rewarding activity to our ancestors, and thankfulness for a bountiful harvest
is part of our culture. Although few of us today have the necessity to grow
food for our subsistence, the activity of gardening still provides some very
meaningful and healthy benefits.

Health | Activity
In a well-
known
Dutch study,
participants
that spent
30 minutes
gardening
after a
stressful task
reported a
better mood
and lower levels
of cortisol, a
stress hormone,
than participants
that read after the task.
Besides being a way to deal
with stress, gardening has also
been effective in helping people cope
with mentally challenging circumstances,
intensive cancer treatments, and life with
chronic physical conditions. Gardening
has also been used to alleviate symptoms
of agitation and aggressive behavior in
cases of dementia. It’s clear that garden
activities provide an outlet and a way
to experience a peaceful environment.
Plus, community gardens add the
important elements of sociability and
connectedness.
Gardening also slows down the
busyness of our stressful daily routines
and allows us time to destress. Patience
is required; we cannot rush a plant to
grow. Seeds take days or months to
produce a harvest; a planted tree will
take years to mature. We are given the
experience of anticipation as we observe
progress. We become mindful of the
other players in the growing drama:
pollinators, weeds, bad bugs, and the
weather. We can fully trust the laws of
nature that seeds will develop into fruit
of their kind, meanwhile assuming the
role of nurturer and protector of the soil,
plants, and environment.
Although research is supportive, it is
not necessary to tell us what we already
know and experience in our gardens.
The activity of gardening improves our
moods. Gardening tantalizes all of our
senses. The song of the birds, the scent
of blooms, the feel of the soil, the wide
range of greens of new growth is ready to
be experienced. Taking the time to look
at the sky, feel the breeze on the face, and
rejoice as it rains reconnects us to nature
and the Creator. Planning our gardens,
whether for a vegetable harvest or for
beauty alone, is a creative endeavor.
Many satisfying hours can be used in
the study of colors and harmony, plant
biology and growing techniques. Our
appreciation of art and the influence of
nature are both undeniably heightened.
Gardening is an activity that allows
us to work in harmony with the Creator;
we can prepare the soil and the seed but
the Creator’s rain and air and sunshine
are necessary for growth. Connection
to our heritage deepens as we learn
about and use our native plants and
foods. The movement to grow food
with our traditional seeds recognizes the
contribution these foods have made to our
healthy lifestyle for thousands of years.
The gardening ways of our ancestors
have relevant lessons for present-day
gardeners. We pass on our values to our
children and youth by example, so grab
a hat, a water bottle, and some seeds and
get busy gardening. Your body will thank
you for it.
Gardening
was rated as
first choice
of exercise
preference in a
research study
involving Navajo
adults with
diabetes.
Dr. Sheryl Gregory has a Ph.D. in Educational and Developmental Psychology and is a member of the Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan.
Agnes E. Van Den Berg. “Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress,” Journal of Health
Psychology 16, no. 1 (2011):3-11. doi: 10.1177/1359105310365577.
Elin Ekblom-Bak, Björn Ekblom, Max Vikström, Ulf de Faire, Mai-Lis Hellénius. “The importance of non-exercise physical
activity for cardiovascular health and longevity.” British Journal of Sports Medicine 48, no. 3 (2013): 233-238. doi: 10.1136/
bjsports-2012-092038.
K. A. Lombard, S. Forster-Cox, D. Smeal, MK O’Neill, “Diabetes on the Navajo nation: what role can gardening and
agriculture extension play to reduce it?” Rural and Remote Health 6, (2006): 640, http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/subviewnew.
asp?ArticleID=640.

Health | Activity

Health | Activity
T
he Surgeon General’s report summarizing research on
physical activity states that physical activity protects
against heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity,
osteoporosis, several cancers, and diabetes. It also combats
stress, depression, fatigue, and helps you feel better about
yourself. Physical activity is energizing, and simply makes you
feel good.
Physical activity is basic to good health
New research shows that any activity you do is beneficial, and it
doesn’t need to be strenuous to have health benefits. Physical activity
guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine state:
“Every U.S. adult should accumulate 30 minutes or more of
moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably, all,
days of the week.” (1, 3)
In a nutshell, the more physically fit a person is, the more he
or she lowers their risk of death from any cause. In one study,
the greatest drop in mortality is between being unfit (no regular
exercise program) and moderately fit. This chart illustrates that
even moderate exercise can have a very positive impact on your
health. In this study, men (not shown) and women who were
moderately fit cut their risk of dying during the study period by
2.5 times compared to those not exercising. Those who became
highly fit had even more health advantages.
BECOMING MORE
PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
Eight Weeks to Wellness: An Introduction to Healthy Living.
BY DONALD R. HALL, DrPH, CHES; PAULA WART, BS; AND GERARD MCLANE, DrPH, CHES

Health Benefits of Physical Activity
As many as 191,000 premature deaths
per year are due to a lack of physical
activity. (3) That is approximately 1 in
12 of all deaths. Exercise helps prevent
many of our nation’s most serious health
problems.
Here are some of the ways regular
physical activity protects your health:
• Improves blood lipid profile,
decreasing blood fats and increasing
HDL (“good” cholesterol)
• Relaxes arteries, improving resting
blood pressure
• Improves function of platelets
and clotting mechanism to prevent
unwanted blood clots
• Improves body composition (burning
excess fat and building muscle tissue)
• Enhances glucose tolerance and
insulin sensitivity
• Improves bone density helping
prevent fractures
• Enhances immune system
• Improves psychological function and
mood
• Maintains muscle mass
• Increases metabolism
• Stimulates health of brain neurons
Exercise Guidelines
When developing your physical activity
program, consider these key guidelines
recommended by the American College
of Sports Medicine. (1, 4)
• Activities
Start with moderate-intensity activities,
activities that moderately increase your
heart rate and breathing but do not cause
undue strain, breathlessness, or fatigue in
healthy adults. Here are some examples:
Brisk walking, 3 to 4 mph for most
healthy adults
Cycling for pleasure, 8 to 10 miles
Swimming, moderate effort
Table tennis
Golf, incorporating walking, pulling,
and carrying clubs
Canoeing, leisurely, 2 to 4 miles
per hour
Active gardening, mowing lawn
Conditioning exercises, calisthenics
Active dancing
Low-impact aerobics
• Exercise time
Aim for 30 minutes or more daily. If
it is more convenient, break up your
activity into two sessions. Walk for 15
minutes in the morning and spend another
15 minutes mowing the lawn or going for
a bike ride in the evening. Ten-minute
sessions during the day are likewise
beneficial. For optimum benefits,
especially for those trying to maintain a
healthy weight, the National Institute of
Medicine recently recommended up to 60
minutes of moderate activity daily. (5)
Try to be more active throughout the
day: walk up the stairs instead of taking
the elevator, walk to a store instead of
driving, pedal a stationary bike while
watching TV, garden, rake leaves, go
dancing, and actively play with the
children.
• Intensity
You should be able to maintain
moderate activities for 15 or 30 or more
minutes without undue strain or fatigue.
They should be “fairly easy to somewhat
hard.” Your activity should make you
breathe deeply, but not so much that you
can’t hold a conversation. Breaking into
a moderate sweat 5 to 10 minutes after
beginning to exercise is also a good sign
that you are working out at a beneficial
level.
• Progression
If you are not used to doing any
physical activity, start with 5 to 10
minutes, once or twice a day. Slowly
build up to 30 or more minutes daily. The
goal is to burn at least 200 calories daily
in physical activity – the equivalent of
walking two miles.
For higher fitness levels, increase the
amount of time for each activity session.
If you are in excellent health, increase
the intensity to include more vigorous
activities such as jogging, biking,
swimming, and active sports. Alternate
the days you do more vigorous physical
activities with days you do moderate
activities. For extra help to keep weight
under control, 60 minutes of moderate
activity is recommended.
Start each session with a warm-up
such as easy walking for 4 to 5 or more
minutes. Likewise, end each exercise
session with a cool-down period, such
as easy walking for 3 to 5 minutes.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH STUDY
WOMEN
Mortality
rate, per
10,000
person
years, all
causes
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
unfit moderately
fit
Highly
fit
Health | Activity

These transitions into and out of more
vigorous activity can prevent injuries
and strain on the heart and body. They
help the body adjust gradually.
• Medical clearance
Most adults do not need to see their
doctor before starting a moderate-
intensity physical activity program.
However, men age 40 and women
age 50 or more years who plan to do
vigorous exercises, and people who
have a chronic disease (such as a
heart problem, high blood pressure,
or diabetes) or risk factors for chronic
disease should contact their doctor
for help in designing a safe, effective
program.
• Strength
Lifting weights or using weight
machines is a good way to improve
strength. You can also do sit-ups or
curl-ups, push-ups, or pull-ups by using
your body as the weight or resistance.
Getting a few dumbbells is inexpensive
and helpful for arm and shoulder
exercises. Strength training should
be done two or more times a week.
Activities that require strength in daily
activities are also helpful, such as heavy
construction, heavy housework, lifting,
carrying, etc.
Joining a fitness club is a good way
to get started correctly and safely. They
have a wide variety of equipment to
use. Be sure to ask for guidance on
how to use the equipment properly for
best results. Or, you can start your own
gym with a mat and a few dumbbells,
and add other equipment as you
progress and desire. Get your spouse,
health buddy, or other friend to join
you. It will help them and will be good
motivation for you to keep exercising.
• Flexibility/Balance
You’ll experience greater freedom
of movement and balance when you
stretch regularly. Stretch at least twice
a week, following physical activity.
Briefly stretch each major muscle
group: head and neck; shoulders, chest
and back, legs, hips, and calves.
Even if you don’t consider
yourself particularly flexible, don’t
be concerned. As you gently stretch
your muscles, they will lengthen. For
• Perform a minimum of 8 to 10
separate exercises that strengthen the
major muscle groups (arms, shoulders,
chest, back, hips, and legs). Use
weights such as dumbbells, resistance
equipment, or calisthenics.
• Perform a minimum of one set of 8 to
12 repetitions of each of these exercises
to the point of volitional fatigue (until
your muscles are tired and you don’t
feel like doing this any more). Older
persons (age 50 and up) can lessen risk
of injury by doing a lighter exercise but
more repetitions (12-15).
• Perform these exercises at least twice
a week.
• Do each exercise through a full
range of motion of the muscle you are
training.
• Do each exercise in a controlled
manner – slow and controlled, not fast
or jerky.
• Maintain normal breathing. Don’t hold
your breath and strain. This can cause
excessive blood pressure.
• Exercise with a training partner
whenever possible for added safety,
added motivation, and feedback on
your technique.
Strength-
building
Guidelines

Health | Activity
1 HHS, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
2 CDC and ACSM, Physical Activity and Public Health, Journal of the American Medical Association, (1995): 402-407.
3 Steven Blair, et. al., “Physical fitness and All-Cause Mortality,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 262, no. 17 (1989)
: 2395-2401.
4 American College of Sports Medicine, Exercise Guidelines.
5 NAS, Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs).
Physical
Activity
Guidelines
balance, practice walking heel to toe,
standing on one leg, walking sideways,
and backwards.
• Fit for life
Look for ways to make physical
activity fun, regular, and enjoyable.
Get your partner, family, and friends
involved. Try a variety of activities.
Look for facilities close by that you can
use after dark or when the weather is
bad. Set goals and keep a record of your
progress. Keeping active throughout
your lifetime will help you stay healthy,
live longer, and improve the quality of
your life.
To prevent weight gain and obtain
optimal health benefits from physical
activity, 60 minutes of daily mod-
erate intensity physical activity is
recommended. (4)
Examples include:
• Brisk walking (3-4 mph when
possible)
• Walking/jogging (5 mph)
• Other activities equivalent to
these activities
Children also need 60 minutes or
more of daily activity.
Institute of
Medicine Fitness
Guidelines
Adults should get at least:
• 2 1/2 hours a week of moderate
intensity aerobic activity such as
brisk walking, biking, or swimming;
• OR one hour and 15 minutes a week
of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity,
such as jogging or active sports;
• OR a combination of both (e.g.,
walk one day for 30 minutes, walk/
jog the next day for 20 minutes).
• In addition, adults should do
muscle-strengthening activities
such as push-ups, curl-ups, and/or
exercises using weights or resistance
equipment. These activities should
involve all major muscle groups and
be done on two or more days per
week.
Youth ages 6-17 should be physically
active at least one hour every day and
can participate in activities such as
walking, biking, soccer, and other ac-
tive sports. At least three times each
week the activity should be vigorous.

Health | NCAI
Program builds pipeline of Native health professionals to spearhead
transformative health policies and practices across Indian Country
F
ifteen years ago, Tara Wak Wak
certainly could not have envisioned
being here today in Washington,
D.C., representing her own Nez
Perce Tribe and Indian Country as one of six
emerging Native health care professionals
chosen to serve in a prestigious national
fellowship program. A single mother, she
was struggling to make ends meet working
as a cashier at her tribe’s casino in Lewiston,
Idaho. Eager to provide her children a
better, more stable life, she began taking
college courses, but her quest to find her
life’s calling proved elusive. She switched
majors three times before enrolling in a
nursing program, promising herself that this
time she would see the program through
until she obtained her degree.
After graduating in 2011, she provided
general medical care to Nez Perce tribal
members at her reservation’s Indian Health
Service (IHS) clinic for three years. For
Tara, her experience illuminated the “dire”
need for mental and behavioral health
professionals in her community, as many of
the patients she was triaging required such
services, but weren’t receiving them.
This realization culminated in Tara’s
decision in 2015 to pursue a Doctor
of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at
Washington State University, with the
goal of becoming a Psychiatric Mental
Health Nurse Practitioner. Her desire is to
specialize in diagnosing and treating mental
and behavioral health issues and substance
abuse disorders in her own Nez Perce
people and other Native individuals. The
first Nez Perce tribal member ever to enroll
in a DNP program, she decided this spring
to apply for the Native Graduate Health
Fellowship with the National Congress of
American Indians. Wak Wak was eager to
equip herself with the knowledge, tools, and
network necessary to developing and then
providing a quality, culturally appropriate
standard of care to the patients she serves.
“I have observed patients seeking
treatment and support services for mental
health issues with little or no resolution,”
says Wak Wak. “My overall goal is to set
and sustain a successful standard in mental
health treatment that can be utilized by my
local Indian Health Service clinic and other
IHS clinics nationwide. This Fellowship
has helped me to better understand how to
design an approach that places the patient
and his or her cultural experiences at
the center of the communication pattern
between primary care providers and mental
health professionals.”
1Monday/Tuesday: The 2016 NCAI Native Graduate Health Fellows meet with HHS
Principal Deputy Director Mary Smith, and then pose with her after a legislative hearing
on the HEALTTH Act (H.R. 5406). Pictured from left to right: Gabe Pimentel (NCAI
Legislative Associate), Alastair Bitsoi (Health Fellow), Steven Just (Health Fellow), Brandi
Payton (Health Fellow), Robert Fulwider (Health Fellow), Mary Smith, Brittany Jock
(Health Fellow), Teressa Baldwin (NCAI Wilma Mankiller Fellow), Tara Wak Wak (Health
Fellow). (Photo courtesy of NCAI)
2Tuesday: Health
Fellows Brittany
Jock, Alastair Bitsoi,
and Steven Just have
a good laugh on
Capitol Hill. (Photo:
Gabe Pimentel)
3Wednesday: The Health Fellows visit the National Human
Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). Pictured are the Health Fellows and NCAI’s
Gabe Pimentel and Teressa Baldwin with (from left to right)
NHGRI Education Specialist Christina Daulton, NHGRI Branch
Chief Carla Easter, and NHGRI Training Program Coordinator
Faith Harrow. (Photo: Ernesto Del Aguila III, NHGRI)
Healthy
Communities,
Vibrant Nations
1 2 3

Launched in 2012, the Native Graduate
Health Fellowship program is part of NCAI’s
commitment to equip the next generation of
Native leaders with the skills, knowledge, and
toolsthattheyneedtosucceed.TheFellowship
aims to address the stark disparities in Native
health by building a pipeline of Native health
professionals who are prepared to lead in
formulating and promoting health policies
and practices that address the unique needs of
American Indians and Alaska Natives.
“While the current challenges of Native
health are great, some of the most promising
developments are from Native nations
who are exercising considerable control
over healthcare delivery and workforce
development,” according to Jacqueline Pata,
NCAI Executive Director. “Building the
capacity of individuals and communities is
criticaltoempoweringtribestoassertthisright
to self-governance and self-determination
in the public health domain. By supporting
graduate students in various health-related
fields, NCAI seeks to increase the number
of Native health leaders and equip them with
the tools necessary to achieve our vision of
strong, healthy Native communities.”
The program’s rigorous application
process is stewarded by a selection committee
composed of NCAI staff and other key Native
health leaders. Applicants are chosen based
on a comprehensive set of criteria, including
a demonstrated commitment to Native
communities and/or tribal health policy, and
a desire to use his/her degree and knowledge
gained from the Fellowship to support
specific tribal communities and/or Indian
Country as a whole (see “The 411” info box
to the right for the full list of criteria).
Wak Wak made the highly competitive
NCAI Native
Graduate Health
Fellowship:
THE 411
FELLOWSHIP COMPONENTS:
(1) A monetary award towards the
Fellow’s graduate studies
(2) professional development of
Fellows in tribal health policy
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must be members of an
American Indian or Alaska Native
tribal nation and must be new or
continuing full-time students pursuing
graduate or professional degrees in
any health-related area, including
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of
Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP), Master of Public
Health (MPH), Master of Pharmacy
(MPharm), etc.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Eligible applications are reviewed
by a selection committee composed
of NCAI staff and other key Native
health leaders. Fellows are selected
on the basis of:
• Demonstrated commitment to
American Indian/Alaska Native
communities and/or tribal health
policy, through contributions to
or participation in one or more of
the following: campus activities,
community or public service,
tribal government and cultural
activities, and research;
• Desire to use degree and
knowledge gained from the
Fellowship to support tribal
communities and/or Indian
Country;
• Strength of academic record;
• Previous professional experience
and community engagement;
• Quality of essay;
• Letters of recommendation;
• Demonstrated leadership,
character, and integrity.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.ncai.org/get-involved/
internships-fellowships/native-
graduate-health-fellowship
4Wednesday: Health
Fellows Brandi Payton,
Robert Fulwider, Brittany
Jock, and Tara Wak Wak
(foreground) check out
the lab with NHGRI staff
Rebecca Martinez (left)
and Loretta Gray Cloud
(right). (Photo: Gabe
Pimentel)
5Thursday: The Health
Fellows and NCAI’s Teressa
Baldwin meet with Francys
Crevier (left) from the National
Council of Urban Indian Health
and Devin Delrow (right) from
the National Indian Health
Board at NCAI’s Embassy of
Tribal Nations. (Photo: Gabe
Pimentel)
6Thursday: The Health Fellows and NCAI’s
Teressa Baldwin visit the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS). Pictured with
them are HHS Tribal Special Assistant Ashley
Ortiz (left), HHS Principal Advisor for Tribal
Affairs Stacey Ecoffey (center), and HHS Tribal
Affairs Specialist Elizabeth Carr (right). (Photo:
Gabe Pimentel)
4 5
6

Health | NCAI
ALASTAIR BITSOI
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation
SCHOOL: New York University
DEGREE PURSUING: Master’s in Public
Health (MPH)
CAREER GOAL: A career in health
(whether it is in health policy, public health
journalism, research, or even medicine), as
it is embedded in the daily life and healing
ceremonies of the Navajo people
WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO PURSUE A
CAREER IN THE HEALTH FIELD?
“One reason is healing, which is pronounced
in Navajo culture and ceremony. The Navajo
principle of hozho is this bedrock, in which
one’s persona and vibes is in balance with
divine nature. Basically, embracing my
truth as a Diné being has been instrumental
to achieving hozho, the ultimate state of
being healthy in the Navajo world. This
concept is referenced in the Navajo people’s
foundational ceremony – The Blessing Way.
There are also many other Navajo ceremonies
that address specific health outcomes that
in part inspired me to pursue a career in
the health field…Good health, or hozho, is
necessary to living a long life, from infancy to
old age, and should be the goal of every living
creature.”
HOW WILL THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU
ARE MAKING IN YOURSELF BENEFIT YOUR
NATION/COMMUNITY OVER THE LONG
RUN?
“Being a reporter I learned about Navajo
society, which I loved. I met a myriad of
people from many backgrounds that helped
shape an open mindset. However, there are
limitations to journalism, in that I simply
told stories instead of choosing a side to an
issue or understanding the process of public
health. I think that with an MPH credential, I
can advocate and specialize in an area that
I think will benefit the communities I plan to
serve. It’s not to say that journalism does not
provide that avenue of advocacy, but, with
my academic background I can forge ahead
and make a greater difference for Indian
Country at the national level.”
ROBERT FULWIDER
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Round Valley Indian Tribes
SCHOOL: University of California, Los Angeles
DEGREE PURSUING: Master’s in Public Health
(MPH) and American Indian Studies
CAREER GOAL: Contribute to the wellness and
wholeness of my people by running an Indian
Health Service clinic, because healthcare is a
vital resource - a resource that we as American
Indians recognized centuries ago by
incorporating this need into our treaties
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU OR OTHER
TRIBAL CITIZENS FACE IN PURSUING A
CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?
“I believe the lack of visible Native medical
professionals in tribal communities makes it hard
for tribal citizens to realize a career in health
as a possibility. I believe a greater visibility of
American Indian medical professionals in both
urban and rural areas along with mentorship can
help tribal citizens get guidance to a pathway in a
career in healthcare.”
WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER
IN THE HEALTH FIELD?
“As I have witnessed family members and
other tribal members battle diseases prone to
our community, it has made me feel hopeless.
Pursuing a career in the healthcare field was an
outlet for me to give me hope on how to overcome
the health problems my family and other tribal
members are facing. I don’t know anyone in my
tribal community that is in the health field, and
I believe that I should start with myself, as I
understand the needs of my community better
than outsiders and right now is the time in order
to help make some positive changes.”
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO APPLY YOUR TRAINING
ON BEHALF OF YOUR NATION/COMMUNITY?
“I hope to come back to my community and
implement initiatives that other tribal nations/
communities have created to address the
challenges they have faced. I hope to inspire
younger members in my tribe that it is possible to
pursue a career in the health field and serve our
community.”
BRITTANY JOCK
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Saint Regis Mohawk
Tribe/Mohawks of Akwesasne
SCHOOL: Johns Hopkins University
DEGREE PURSUING: Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD)
CAREER GOAL: Learn how to develop
health programs and policies in partnership
with tribal stakeholders to promote the
health of their nations, especially by
preventing obesity and related chronic
diseases
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO APPLY YOUR
TRAINING ON BEHALF OF YOUR NATION/
COMMUNITY?
“My training will benefit my community
in emergent ways. I think it’s important
as a researcher to engage with my home
community of Akwesasne and other Native
communities in ways that allow them to
drive research partnerships and define their
needs for further research and program
development…Key to this work will be
putting my training into practice and utilizing
research networks that I have developed
over the course of my doctoral, graduate
and undergraduate studies to assist in
creating solutions to community health
issues. I think that there is an opportunity
to develop community surveillance systems
to collect demographic, risk factor, and
disease prevalence data to improve
community understanding of chronic disease
burdens and to highlight opportunities for
interventions and grants for the community.”
HOW WILL THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU
ARE MAKING IN YOURSELF BENEFIT YOUR
NATION/COMMUNITY OVER THE LONG
RUN?
“In the long run, I hope to have a prolonged
professional relationship with my community.
Specifically, I would like to work with
my community to see tribal policy and
institutional policies as a way to promote
health in our community and prevent
chronic diseases from burdening our future
generations through culturally appropriate
programming tailored to the unique needs
and issues of Akwesasronon.”

Health | NCAI
cut, becoming one of six up-and-coming
health professionals that comprise the fifth
cohort of NCAI Native Graduate Health
Fellows. She was joined by 2016 Fellows
Alastair Bitsoi, Robert Fulwider, Brittany
Jock, Steven Just, and Brandi Payton (see
bio capsules on pages 20 and 22 for details).
In addition to receiving $2,000 in financial
awards to be applied toward their graduate
studies, the Fellows came together in
Washington, D.C., in July for an intensive,
four-day professional development regimen
designed to deepen their understanding
about tribal sovereignty, tribal public policy,
Native health policy, and recent innovations
in Native healthcare.
During their time in the nation’s capital,
the Fellows met with federal officials and
representatives of national Native health
policy advocacy organizations, notable
among them a luncheon conversation
with IHS Principal Deputy Director Mary
Smith. They also engaged with key NCAI
staff members to learn about the history
of NCAI, its role in advancing Indian
Country’s health policy priorities, and how
NCAI’s Policy Research Center supports
this advocacy effort through the generation
and coordination of relevant data about
Native health, health disparities, and the
root causes driving those disparities.
Using the NCAI Embassy of Tribal
Nations as their home base, the Fellows
also visited Capitol Hill and toured the
federal agencies that play critical roles in
Native health policy and the provision of
Native healthcare services. Tuesday began
with a tour of the White House, followed
by a legislative hearing on the HEALTTH
Act (H.R. 5406), which seeks to amend
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
to improve access to tribal healthcare by
providing for systemic IHS workforce and
funding allocation reforms.
Wednesday was spent at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda,
Maryland, where the Fellows learned about
NIH research and training opportunities,
how research translates into improved
healthcare practices, and the impact
of research on federal, state and tribal
health policies. While there, the Fellows
also met with staff from NIH’s National
Human Genome Research Institute to
learn about genomics (which involves
genetic mapping to help better understand
diseases). Meanwhile, Thursday featured a
trip to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), where the Fellows
learned how tribal voices and priorities
are expressed and validated through the
direct consultation provided by the HHS
Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee.
All told, the fellows’ whirlwind D.C.
experience broadened their horizons by
exposing them to various healthcare fields,
while at the same time immersing them in
how Native health policy works – and can
and should work better, particularly at the
national level. The jam-packed agenda also
sharpened their focus about the particular
roles that they can play in improving
healthcare for Native people.
“Seeing how the system works has
been incredibly useful,” says Jock, who
is studying to become a researcher of
chronic diseases in her home community
of Akwesasne and elsewhere across Indian
Country. “It really opened my eyes to all of
the things that are being done and could be
done in Indian Country to improve Native
health, such as conducting actionable
qualitative research with Native people who
are treated at IHS facilities.”
According to Bitsoi, “Being in this
fellowship program has helped me to
solidify my path, and narrow down how I
can contribute to Native health.” A former
Navajo Times reporter, he plans to use his
Master of Public Health degree from New
York University to become a public health
journalist. “I have gotten a lot of positive
energy from this experience, in particular
hearing the stories of persistence shared
by the other Fellows. They have shown me
resiliency.”
In addition to leaving a lasting impression
on one another, the Fellows also left quite
an imprint on those they met during their
time in Washington, D.C. For example,
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA)
representatives that the Fellows met have
since enlisted them to serve as contributing
writers for the Administration’s newsletter,
and also invited them to return to
Washington, D.C., in August to participate
in SAMHSA’s Tribal Applicant Workshop,
which shared best and promising practices
and prevention skills for tribal communities
to support their community-based substance
abuse prevention programming efforts.
“It was such an honor to be engaged with
such an outstanding, distinguished group
of Fellows,” according to Marcy Ronyak,
Director of SAMHSA’s Office of Indian
Alcohol and Substance Abuse. “In each of
the Fellows, I witnessed the passion, desire,
and inspiration to be a positive change agent
for Indian Country. I am excited to see how
“We have to walk the talk. We must show the
youth that what we are doing is possible and
that they can achieve it as well.”
– Alastair Bitsoi, 2016 Native Graduate Health Fellow

STEVEN JUST
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Sisseton Wahpeton
Oyate
SCHOOL: University of Minnesota
DEGREE PURSUING: Doctor of Pharmacy
(PharmD)
CAREER GOAL: Become not only a
pharmacist who helps his community
understand and receive their medication
therapy, but also a professional who
continually works to improve health
policies and access to quality care
HOW CAN OTHER CITIZENS OF YOUR
NATION FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
“I strongly encourage other tribal citizens,
particularly the next generation, to find
good role models and opportunities to learn
new things. The power of mentorship and
extracurricular opportunities is often under-
recognized. Take advantage of tribal and
non-tribal programs that promote higher
education and academic success. Some of
these things, like professional mentorship
opportunities, may be hard to find in some
tribal communities, but be persistent in the
pursuit of success.”
IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WHAT WILL IT
TAKE FOR YOUR NATION TO PROVIDE
QUALITY, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
HEALTH CARE TO ALL OF ITS CITIZENS?
“One of the best strategies to achieve the
goals of quality, culturally appropriate
provision of health care for Native Americans
is to train Native students to become those
professionals who can best deliver that
care. Various programs can act as a pipeline
to these professions, but these programs
must themselves be culturally appropriate
and support Native American student
values and backgrounds. If these programs
provide support for Native students to
attend national conferences, participate
in internships and fellowships, and
receive mentorship from Native American
professionals, then we will see more
appropriate and adequate healthcare for our
tribal citizens in the near future.”
BRANDI PAYTON
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cherokee Nation
(enrolled), and Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Hopi
SCHOOL: Oklahoma State University
DEGREE PURSUING: Master’s in Public
Health (MPH)
CAREER GOAL: Strive to be an exceptional
leader that helps to change the trajectory
of Native health for the better, because the
status quo – people dying before they reach
the closest emergency room, the unsanitary
conditions at our health facilities, inadequate
patient monitoring, etc. – is simply not
acceptable
WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO PURSUE A
CAREER IN THE HEALTH FIELD?
“I grew up relying on Indian Health Service
(IHS) as my primary means of healthcare and
knew they needed passionate American Indians
to make positive changes. I began my Indian
Health career at an IHS hospital working in an
ICU. I wasn’t there long when the Assistant
Chief Nursing Officer suggested that I look into
a newly opened Quality Management Nurse
position within the Cherokee Nation Health
Services. With her recommendation, I received
the job. During this time, it dawned on me
that Indian Health didn’t just need me at the
bedside; they needed me in a leadership role
in which I would have more of an opportunity
to advocate passionately for positive changes
within Indian Health.”
COMMUNITY?
“Addressing the stark health disparities among
the American Indian population has become
the focus of my professional life; therefore, my
interest in this training is simple. This training
aligns perfectly with my life’s work that is
centered on my dedication to the betterment
of health for the American Indian population.
Improving American Indian health is truly the
most challenging yet rewarding work I have ever
had the honor of doing. It is my hope to apply this
training to my life in a way that I continue to grow
as a leader who is prepared to lead in formulating
and promoting health policies and practices that
address the unique needs of American Indians.”
TARA WAK WAK
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Nez Perce Tribe
SCHOOL: Washington State University
DEGREE PURSUING: Doctorate of Nursing
(DNP)
CAREER GOAL: Provide culturally competent
care to the underserved Native American
population while specializing in proper
diagnosis and treatment of mental health and
substance abuse disorders
HOW CAN OTHER CITIZENS OF YOUR
NATION FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
“I hope to provide encouragement to those
struggling with the idea that they are incapable of
successfully enrolling in and attending graduate
school. I am the first in Nez Perce to be enrolled in
the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Psychiatric
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
program and our local newspaper has recently
done an article on this exciting achievement. I was
very honest during my interview and let other
tribal members know that I actually did not make
it into the DNP program the first time I applied.
But being denied the first time made me persevere
and work harder on my application the second
time. Failure shouldn’t define us and should only
be a stepping stone. I hope my story inspires
others to pursue their dreams, especially those
looking to work in the healthcare field. I plan to
also provide mentorship to others in the nursing
field as I understand the clinical training.”
COMMUNITY?
“My psychiatric training will provide me with the
expertise to diagnose and provide therapeutic
mental care. My intellectual curiosity ponders the
potential correlates between psychopathology,
PTSD, and historical trauma and
intergenerational trauma in the Native American
population and how these correlates contribute
to physical and mental health disparities. By
expanding on the limited universe of knowledge
related to historical trauma, inclusive of the
forced removal of Native American children from
parents and homes to boarding schools, my
ultimate goal is to assist in changed historical
trauma from merely a theory to a scientific
proven concept based on evidence.”
Health | NCAI

they all take the next step to address health
disparities among our tribal communities.”
In the Fellows’ view, moving the needle
in a positive direction when it comes to
those disparities depends on the quality of
the healthcare that Native people receive, as
well as the degree to which that care reflects
and relies on tribal cultures and values.
“There are an overwhelming number of
individuals in my community who suffer
from chronic diseases but have a difficult
time getting proper treatment because of
their lack of proximity to a quality health
care facility,” explains Fulwider, who
aspires to run a health clinic someday.
“I honestly believe creating a regional
hospital on the reservation that follows
the proper cultural standards of tribes in
our region is a step forward in improving
health.”
The Fellows believe it’s up to them
to help lead Indian Country’s charge to
provide quality, culturally appropriate care
to Native people – and up to tribal nations
and leaders to make concerted, strategic
investments to build their capacity (as well
as the capacity of those that follow in their
footsteps) to deliver that care.
“It is a great investment to become a
NativeAmericanhealthprofessional.Many
health professionals do not seek careers in
rural areas or reservations that serve Native
American populations; therefore, I feel
like I have a duty to practice in one of these
areas,” says Just, who plans to work as a
pharmacist in his Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
community upon completing his degree. “I
received my healthcare at the local IHS
clinic and grew up in similar circumstances
as its patients – so the investment in me is
worth more than an investment in someone
who is not from a tribal nation.”
According to Jock, “Ultimately, what it
will take is representation of our people
in the healthcare professions. We must
increase our capacity as tribal nations to
drive research and practice, and to set new
standardsfornotonlyculturallyappropriate
care, but for healthcare that emerges from
our worldview and traditions.”
Just as important as the commitment
of tribal nations to cultivate the talents
of their citizens to become healthcare
professionals is the need to cultivate their
people’s belief in themselves and their own
innate ability to become physicians and
nurses, healthcare researchers and health
policy advocates.
“We didn’t think that we were capable
of being doctors when we were younger.
We thought it was out of our reach,” says
Payton, a clinic administrator at one of
Cherokee Nation’s ambulatory health
centers. “If you truly want people that are
going to stay on the rez and that are going
to provide culturally appropriate care and
that are invested in the community, you
have to start young. That’s where it’s got
to start.”
“The key ingredient to getting here is
to love one’s self. I think that many youth
across Indian Country do not love who
they are, often preferring popular culture
over theirs,” Bitsoi says. “It is important to
remain resilient, as our ancestors sacrificed
their lives for us to be here in the 21st
century. Other citizens of my nation need
to know that our culture is strong and
rich with answers to today’s problems
embedded in those known as Indigenous
peoples. To succeed in this global society,
you have to love who you are – physically,
mentally, spiritually, and emotionally –
and love where you come from. Embracing
your truth leads to success, at least for me
it has.”
To learn more about the NCAI Native Graduate Health Fellowship, please visit: http://www.ncai.org/get-involved/internships-
fellowships/native-graduate-health-fellowship.
The Native Graduate Health Fellowship is made wpossible through the generous support of Robert Burnette, the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, and a range of other donors. NCAI deeply appreciates these donors’essential role in establishing and sustaining
the endowment that supports the Fellowship.
Health | NCAI
“It is time for us, and the time is now. It takes a group like
us that is passionate, and that’s why I am so grateful that I
met all of my Fellows because it is great to see younger people
that are passionate about the same thing. It makes you feel
like you have a support system and people that understand
where you are coming from and what your goals are.”
– Brandi Payton, 2016 Native Graduate Health Fellow

NCAI Events
2016 - 2018
► 73rd Annual Convention
& Marketplace
Phoenix Convention Center,
Phoenix, AZ
October 9-14, 2016
► Tribal Interior Budget Council
Washington, DC
November 7-9, 2016
► 2017 Executive Council
Winter Session
Washington, DC
February 13-16, 2017
► 2017 Mid Year Conference
& Marketplace
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT
June 25-28, 2017
► 74th Annual Convention
& Marketplace
Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, WI
October 15-20, 2017
► 2018 Executive Council Winter Session
Washington, DC
Feb 12-15, 2018
► 2018 Mid Year Conference &
Marketplace
Kansas City, MO
Jun 3-6, 2018
► 75th Annual Convention &
Marketplace
Denver, CO
Oct 21-26, 2018
Go to http://www.ncai.org
for more event information.

PUT YOUR
TRIBAL NAME
ON THE
FUTURE
OF INDIAN
COUNTRY TODAY.
As the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) approaches
its 75th
anniversary, it needs your help to sustain its work for the
next 75 years by helping the organization retire the $6 million debt
it owes on NCAI’s Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, DC.
Please consider donating to NCAI and enabling it to continue
its difference-making work in the nation’s capital and across the
country for decades to come. To learn more or to donate, please
call 202-466-7767.
About NCAI:
Founded in 1944, NCAI is the oldest, largest and most
representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization
serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
In 2009, Indian Country’s longstanding dream of establishing
the NCAI Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, DC came to
fruition. The Embassy benefits tribes and tribal organizations in
many ways, including enhancing the presence of sovereign tribal
nations in the nation’s capital and increasing public policymaker
awareness about tribal governments and NCAI.
A non-profit organization, NCAI advocates for a bright future
for the next seven generations by taking the lead in gaining
Tribal consensus on a constructive and promising vision for
Indian Country. NCAI’s policy issues and initiatives are driven
by the unified voice of its diverse membership, which consists
of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, tribal
citizens, individuals, and Native and non-Native organizations.

Health | Activity
THAN RUST OUT
Back in the good old days,
when I was a boy, my dad was a trapper. He would leave home
on Sunday to go on his trap line circuit and would return home
on Friday. During the week nights he stayed in his trapping
cabins in the bush. Some were more rustic than others, and one
was definitely a “shack.” It was a hard way to make a living,
but he seemed to really enjoy the outdoors, the solitude, and the
adventure.
We were a poor but happy family. Sometimes we older children
would go with him on shorter trips. It was a great adventure as we
wondered, What animals would we see? Where would we stay?
We seemed to walk and walk and walk some more.
Before the introduction of the snow machine, my dad walked or
snowshoed along his trap line. He would walk carrying a pack on
his back, a rifle in one hand and an axe in the other. He would walk
for hours and never seemed to get tired. He was very fit. I think his
motto was “I’d rather wear out than rust out.”
Life is a bit different today. In order to gather or grow our food,
or to make a seasonal move to where the food was (summer fish
camp) it took activity. Whether we were gathering firewood to
keep warm or playing, it all involved activity. Today, most of us
have to be very intentional about getting enough exercise to stay
healthy.
What is your activity level? I have a modern “trap line” that
helps me achieve a certain level of activity every day. It’s called
BY ED DUNN, Ph.D.
I’d Rather Wear Out

Health | Activity
Ed Dunn is an Elder of the Mississauga Ojibwa First Nation in Ontario, Canada. He has a Ph.D. in Public Health.
a Fitbit – and it’s an electronic gadget that
counts my steps. My goal is to walk 10,000
steps each day.
What does physical activity have to do
with being healthy? There’s an old saying that
“perfect circulation provides perfect health.”
In other words, if we can maintain good blood
circulation, we will have good health, because the blood
is the transport system. Our blood circulates through our bodies
and takes the oxygen we breathe in and the nutrients that we eat to
each and every cell of our body. It also carries the waste produced
from our cells to be eliminated. If our blood is circulating well, it
stands to reason that we will feel better and enjoy life more.
I’ve heard it said that our legs in motion are like a second heart,
because the motion of our muscles contracting and relaxing as we
walk assists the heart in speeding up the blood returning from the
lower portion of our body. Using our legs in our physical activities
is highly beneficial to our entire body.
According to Dr. Ratey, the author of Spark, “you can beat
stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect,
and function better than ever, simply by elevating your heart rate
and breaking into a sweat.” The best way to break into a sweat is
to get some physical exercise. Here are some of the many benefits
of physical activity:
• Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move
about without falling
• Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
• Helps control weight
• Helps promote psychological well-being
• Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints
• Reduces risk of dying prematurely
• Reduces risk of dying from heart disease
• Reduces risk of developing high blood pressure
• Reduces risk of developing diabetes and colon cancer

We can recapture some of the old ways by spending more time
outside. We can walk across the road to visit our neighbor, take our
families camping and hike with friends. We can join a community
group to swim, walk, or take a walking tour of another part of our
ancestral lands. The possibilities are endless, but it helps if you can
get someone else excited about activity, too. It seems that when
you have a buddy sharing your activity, your staying power will be
much better: you will continue the new activity longer.
Sometimes it’s good to develop some sort of reward
system for yourself, as well. Make sure your
reward is not counteracting the benefits the
activity is giving you. For instance, avoid
rewards of sugary, fatty treats. Speaking of
a reward, there is a “feel good” hormone
(endorphin) that our body produces when
we exercise. It is our Creator’s way of
encouraging us to engage in the physical
activity again to get the good feeling again.
That’s a great natural reward for staying
active.
Yes, I know it seems like work, but think
of it this way: People complain that exercise
“takes all the fun out of life.” But really the goal of
exercise is to “give you more life to enjoy the fun.”
Strive to do whatever it takes to increase your activity level.
Don’t sit around and rust out. Be active. Don’t worry, you won’t
wear out. Our Creator made our bodies in such a way to rejuvenate
and repair while we sleep. So, up and at ‘em. Enjoy life.

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